The Los Angeles Angels have found themselves in a tough spot after the Detroit Tigers made a late-season push to secure the American League’s final Wild Card spot. While the Tigers celebrated their postseason return, the Angels now hold the unfortunate title of the team with the longest playoff drought in MLB, last making the postseason in 2014.
A combination of factors has contributed to the Angels’ struggles. Owner Arte Moreno raised the team’s payroll to the brink of baseball’s first Competitive Balance tax in 2023, but the team still fell short this season.
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Heading into the 2024 season, Moreno cut payroll by about $40 million, depending on a younger roster while dealing with the continued absence of star player Mike Trout, who has been sidelined since early in the season due to a meniscus tear. This resulted in a dismal 63-99 record, marking the worst performance in franchise history since its inception in 1961.
In a recent interview with the Orange County Register, Moreno expressed a commitment to ramping up the team’s payroll to aim for a playoff spot in 2025. “It’s going to go up,” he told reporter Jeff Fletcher.
Moreno also mentioned he’s willing to spend more, clarifying “we won’t go there again,” in reference to the luxury tax threshold. The Angels’ payroll for 2023 was around $215 million, compared to an anticipated $176 million for 2024—quite the shift as the team plans ahead.
While Moreno’s promise to boost the payroll is encouraging, the challenge lies in identifying where to allocate those resources. The pitching rotation has not performed well, lacking a clear ace and depth, especially with injuries to starters Patrick Sandoval and breakout player Jose Soriano. Free agency offers potential solutions, with notable arms like Corbin Burnes, Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi, and Shane Bieber on the market.
Moreover, unless Christian Moore, their first-round pick from last year, has a standout spring training, adding a second baseman could be a priority. The team might also look for a right-handed bat to provide depth, particularly for the oft-injured Trout and veteran third baseman Anthony Rendon.